Search for fishermen to resume tomorrow

The search for three missing fishermen on a boat due to reach
Kiribati three days ago will resume at first light tomorrow.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion completed an initial
radar search of the sea south of Tarawa Island, Kiribati,
today.

It has not managed to spot the fishermen, who were last seen
aboard a six-metre boat.

The Orion has now landed on Tarawa Island and will resume the
search tomorrow, a Maritime New Zealand spokesman said.

Earlier today the Orion, while on its way to search for the
missing fishermen, discovered another damaged yacht that had
also been reported missing.

The aircraft was en route to Kiribati when it was diverted to
look for a 38-foot British catamaran Troutbridge.

The yacht, with just the skipper on board, had lost contact
with another yacht accompanying it after a storm on Thursday
night.

It was heading to New Caledonia from Fiji.

The plane made contact with the Troutbridge skipper, who
reported that while the catamaran had suffered hull and rig
damage and was leaking, pumps on board were working
effectively and he was carrying on to Noumea.